Yet, all he could do was kiss her even harder as that thought passed through his mind. Her buttocks fell perfectly into the palms of his hands. She had so many layers to her gown, but he could still feel how soft and plump it was. He could tell that she wanted him as much as he wanted her.
She moaned as he kissed her even harder, offering all of herself in this kiss. Her body quivered, it melted in his arms, and he knew that if he were to lift her up and take her to his bed chamber, she would gladly allow him. But he could not do that. That need would remain unsatiated.
“Edwin…” he heard her moan.
“Tell me, Lydia…” he replied. He kept sucking on her lower lip then he released it, only to trail an invisible line of kisses down her neck and below the sensitive hollow of her ear.
“I… I…” There was obviously something she wanted him to know. His heart was beating faster, louder, booming inside his ear. He waited to hear what she had to tell him.
Then, a knock on the door seemed to explode all around them. She pulled away, her lips slightly swollen from his kisses. Her cheeks were blushing red. She looked absolutely ravishing. He wanted to shout at whoever it was to go to Hell, but he swallowed those words instead.
He looked at her, waiting for her confirmation that it was all right to answer the door. She silently nodded, adjusting her gown.
“Yes?” he called out.
“I apologize, Your Grace, but Mr. Turlington is here to see you,” his butler explained from the other end of the door. Edwin had completely forgotten that he had a scheduled meeting with his attorney.
“Send him to the drawing room,” Edwin instructed. “I shall be right there.”
He couldn’t take his eyes off Lydia. She had never looked more beautiful than she did now. She was smiling. He could not stop smiling, too. It was a ridiculous feeling, yet nothing could have felt more natural.
“You and your sisters prepare for our trip,” he instructed, deciding not to apologize about the kiss this time. He did it because he wanted to. He felt guilty, but at the same time, nothing could have brought him more pleasure than kissing her breathless. “I shall send you word when we are going.”
“All right,” she nodded.
They exchanged a hasty goodbye, and she disappeared behind closed doors, leaving Edwin with a tangled mess of thorns that had become his emotions.
CHAPTER23
Several days before their designated trip, Lydia could still not cease to think about their kiss. She wondered how long it would have lasted if Edwin’s butler had not interrupted them. She would rather die than admit it to anyone, but she would not be the one to stop it. She was enjoying herself far too much for that.
Still, keeping an eye on Anna and what she had been up to was something that made her focus her mind on something other than Edwin and the fact that they would all be spending several days and nights under the same roof. The thought titillated her. It thrilled her, but she knew that they needed to be cautious. Yes, she wanted to solve mysteries and have a good time but not at the expense of her reputation.
That morning, when she was passing by Selina’s chamber, she thought she heard someone crying. She immediately stopped and approached the door. Hesitant, she leaned her ear against the hard surface and listened carefully. A moment later, she was assured that someone was crying inside. That someone could only be Selina.
Lydia knocked softly, waiting to be called in. She counted exactly fifteen seconds, much longer than she would have expected to wait, then Selina came over and opened the door herself. She managed to calm herself down, obviously. She was smiling even. But the swollen redness of her eyes was a telltale sign.
“Selina, is everything all right?” Lydia asked tenderly, almost whispering to her sister.
Selina faltered then she stepped aside, allowing her sister into her chamber. She quickly closed the door but remained standing.
“Nothing is all right,” Selina finally spoke in a voice that assured Lydia more crying was bound to happen soon.
“Come now,” Lydia said, taking her sister by the hand then leading her to the bed where both of them took a seat, one next to the other. “Whatever is troubling you, we can sort it out. You know we can. Now, why don’t you tell me all about it? After all, two heads are better than one.”
Selina smiled. Lydia was instantly hopeful that whatever reason had Selina so sad wasn’t as troublesome as it initially appeared.
“I… I think I do not want to marry the Viscount,” Selina said, carefully selecting each of her words.
Lydia frowned. This came completely out of nowhere. “Wait… you do not wish to marry him? But… why?”
Selina shrugged. “I think I’m not in love with him.”
“You think or you know?” Lydia asked.
“I don’t feel it,” Selina said, unable to find the right words.
Lydia smiled. “You do not have to marry anyone you do not wish. And if you do not love this man, then he is obviously not the one for you. Is that why you are crying? Because you don’t want to hurt him?”